Thursday, April 26, 2012

Random

Currently this yellow skirt is a favorite...because is twirls when she dances...

Reese came downstairs the other day after she had dressed herself in this yellow skirt...

"Mom I wear my yellow skirt today...because today I need to dance!"

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Trying to fill mommy's shoes...

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And of course Anni had to get in on the action...she tries so hard!

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Sunday, April 22, 2012

Zoo

I'm not a fan of zoo's...never have been. If you know me very well, you know there's no love loss between me and the animal kingdom. That's mainly because my body has a very negative physical reaction to all animal dander and hair...one I'm paying the price for today. But I still go, because my husband and daughter both love animals...and I'm nice.

So we went Saturday morning. Reese seemed much more interested in all the animal statues, than the animals themselves.
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She was especially enthralled with this gorilla.
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Obviously the carousel was a big hit.
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Anni just chillaxed in the stroller most the day. Little did we know that in mere hours she would be throwing up non stop and sick as a dog...maybe she likes animals as much as her mom.
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The train was another big hit...
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...even Anni managed to muster up a little excitment.
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Done with my zoo duty for the  year!

Anni's 1 year photo shoot...

I couldn't have asked for Anni's photo shoot to have gone any better than it did. She was such a trooper and about as cooperative as she could have been with 4 outfit changes and a "dive into the cake" finale.  She was happy and smiley from start to finish...well she did  get a little ornery a couple times, as you will see in a couple of her pictures.

I have to give my good friend Lisa a huge thank you for her amazing photography skills. I've been very lucky with both my girls to have such talented friends to take their pictures.

I can't believe it's already been 1 year. I feel like it was just yesterday I was posting Reese's 1 year photo shoot.  It's been fun to look at them side by side. Reese and Anni each have their own unique personalities and looks, and I love how their pictures genuinely capture their individuality.

As for Anni...one things for sure...in 1 year, this little blue eyed girl has stolen our hearts.

(There are over 60+ pictures. These are some of my favorites.)

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...and the cake finale...

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Staring right at mom, off camera..."Are your sure mom...I can really do this??"
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Friday, April 20, 2012

Cake

Reese: Mom I want cake.
Me: Cake? Why do you want cake?
Reese: Just cause mom.
Me: We don't have any cake sweetie.
Reese: You can make a cake mom. A blue cake.
Me: A blue cake?
Reese: Ya mom. You make the best cakes.
Me: So let me get this straight; you want me to make you a blue cake for no apparent reason, on a random Friday?
Reese: Yep mom. You can do it. I know you can.
Me: I don't think I have all the stuff we need to make a blue cake honey. I'm sorry. We could make a chocolate cake.
Reese: (Now laying on the floor crying) I just want a blue cake mom. Pleeeeeese make a blue cake mom! Pleeeeeeease!! I need blue cake mom! I really really need blue cake!"

We rarely have cake around here, except for birthdays or holidays. I have no idea why she suddenly wanted cake...blue cake no less.

But guess who convinced her dad to make her cake when he got home from work. Only by then it had changed to green cake instead of blue. Arnold is always a succor when it comes to his Reesy...and lets be honest...he's a succor for cake too.

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Monday, April 16, 2012

City Creek Center

Have you visited City Creek Center yet??

This place will always have a little place in my heart. If you know me, you know that I lived downtown for 8 years working for Zions Securities Corporation; the company that handles all the churches commercial, retail and residential real estate. When I first started working at ZSC I worked in the commercial department, managing office towers. After a few years I transferred to the retail/mall department where I eventually became the Marketing Director for what was then the ZCMI Center and Crossroads Plaza malls.

In my last year working at ZSC I was lucky enough to be a part of the team that first envisioned what is now the City Creek Center. I participated in the very first brain storms and mock ups of this beautiful place, and while it changed many times over the years, until final development, It was exciting and a little emotional to see many of our original idea's executed and brought to life.

I'm a little sad that I didn't take more pictures. I forgot my good camera and I was a little preoccupied, soaking it all in and chasing Reese around, before I realized that I could use my phone. But here are just a few shots. I will definitely take more pictures next time. If for no other reason than nostalgia.

This is Eagle Gate Plaza, one of the few buildings that didn't get demolished. It is my favorite downtown building. Maybe because it was one of the first buildings I helped manage. I have so many happy memories with this building. One includes the mock-prom I threw for my roommate Natalie in the top floor old Huntsman space. She missed her senior prom, when her grandmother passed away. So with the help of her high school boy friend, we recreated prom for her. One of my other favorites is taking my nieces and nephews up and down the elevators. They loved to go all the way to the top and look out the windows. You can see the whole Salt Lake Valley from up there. They especially liked it at night.
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This is the new Zions Bank building. It stands where the old Gateway Tower East building once stood. My office was on the 15th floor of the GTE building. The new building is so beautiful!
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This is the new Kirton McConkie building that stands where the old ZCMI Food Court and the old Deseret Book Building used to be.  It's a beautiful building as well. Reese especially loved the waterfall. She loved all the water features through out the mall, especially the creek that runs through the entire bottom floor.
We're standing right outside the new City Creek Food Court.
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Of course Reese's favorite store in the whole mall...the Disney Store. We spent a good chunk of time checking it out.
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And no trip downtown would be complete without a stroll through temple square. Reese loved the infinity fountain. She didn't understand why we couldn't go swimming in it.
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